Following on from their Adnams Plate Final success the previous day, the Eels Foot Inn II went into the Grand Final semi-finals as, in theory anyway, the outsiders/underdogs. Having achieved runners-up spot in their own division and being awarded the Seed 12 position in the league's play-off format, the odds were stacked against the Eels Foot'ers.
In each successive round they faced a Divisional Winner, starting in the Last 16 against a well-fancied strong team in the shape of Parrot & Punchbowl Aldringham. However a fifth-game decider saw the Eels clip the Parrots wings and take their place in the Last 8.
There they came up against the newly formed yet very experienced Bromeswell Boules Club, who had somewhat a bad day at the office and came unstuck against the Eels by a scoreline of 4-0.
By this time the Eels Foot team had already reached the Adnams Plate Final, facing their own team-mates Eels Foot Inn I on the Saturday at Aldeburgh.
Having dispatched them by 3-1, it was onto the serious business of the Coastal Semi-Finals. Up first was Kettleburgh, who had won the Tally Ho division, and had only qualified on Thursday evening themselves by beating Crown Inn Snape 3-2 at Stowmarket.
With young Baillie Inglis playing like a seasoned adult (despite only being 7 years old), the Eels never let Kettleburgh in and sent them packing with a 4-0 victory, setting up the Coastal Final against Gt Finborough Chestnut Horse, who themselves had already secured the Adnams Cup the day before.
Some it was somewhat fitting that the Cup and Plate winners were now facing each other in the Coastal Grand Final and a real see-saw battle commenced. At the halfway point it was 1 game apiece and this deadlock remained in the second half, seeing the match reach 2-2 and a fifth game decider in front of the vast assembled and our corporate sponsors.
A tense game saw both teams moving the score peg but then Finborough got a six on end end to seemingly gain the upper hand. This however wasn't the case and the Eels fought back to reach 12 points and be holding with the match-winning boule. Surprisingly Finborough couldn't do anything about it and the Grand Final finished 13-9 to the Eels Foot.
A tremendous effort, having beaten 4 Divisional winners along the way, and becoming the lowest seed to ever win our Coastal Championship. Also great from a sponsors point of view as they become the first ever actual Adnams pub to win the Coastal title.
1 comment:
Great summation of a fantastic day Simon, and I am sure all 4 teams involved were grateful to everyone who turned up to support, slight correction, he's only 6 !
Post a Comment